A fire in Allentown's east side displaced at least five residents Sunday and detoured traffic on Hamilton Street for more than an hour.

The blaze, which was reported around 5:30 p.m., quickly engulfed the front of a home at 236 E. Hamilton St., chasing residents from the building and surrounding homes.

Marion Belfield said she has lived at the home with her mother since 1970. Her daughter, brother and niece also lived there. All escaped uninjured, she said.

Firefighters, police and fire police arrived at the scene quickly. Many were already on duty several blocks away at the PPL Center arena, where there was a wrestling event Sunday evening.

The fire was under control by 6 p.m., authorities said.

Nick Garcia of Allentown said he was driving past the building around 5:30 p.m. when he saw flames shooting from the front and side windows. He hopped out of the car with his daughter and began knocking on doors of neighboring homes.

(Emily Paine)

"I saw lights on," Garcia said. "I just kept banging and kicking."

Fire marshals are investigating the blaze, but were not immediately available to comment..